The glowing beauty in the fog gives way to the dry, rustling sound of raining leaves.
A tiny, fluffy, wind born seed rests on me and then is caught up on the breeze, flitting across the yard like a dancing, twirling fairy.
Bird chatter and busy feeding go on through the sunny hours.
Sabbath rest; I feel it deeply.
On the grounds of a busy medical center near Baltimore, I have found a hidden garden. Grown from a ravine between garage and offices and crossed with walkways, it draws me anytime I go on campus. On a clear September day, I took the time to linger in this oasis and enjoy the waterfall and pond.
I felt the tension float away as I listened to the water talking to the rocks it passed.
This frog fellow was my only companion, relaxing forever on his lily pad with his carefree attitude that seemed to speak to me that day as the water flowed through him to splash and aerate the water for the vermillion fish.
Wouldn’t it be grand to stretch and face the sun, totally at peace, while accomplishing the work of nurturing others. Thinking about this, I rose and then noticed this small, living frog who I could imagine was also intent on the sculpture. (look closely to the left, near the fallen leaf)
Now relaxed and smiling, I left him to his musing.
I grew up calling this Autumn Clematis. Dad grew it on a trellis in the back yard and I loved the luxurious bloom and the amazing fragrance. I finally have a plant descendant from that vine growing well and blooming this summer.
A number of years ago, I was gifted with a 1939 edition of The Gardener’s Bed Book. Richardson Wright’s language is a bit flowery at times as he takes the reader through the months. September 9 he wrote on Virgin’s Bower, Clematis paniculata. “...even the Latin of it is pretty.”
“Early September sees its stars appearing — here a star and there a star, as the light of the heavens twinkle through dusky mists. And when that Milky Way has come down to dwell with us, it brings also a divine fragrance.”
I had never heard the name Virgin’s Bower so I searched to see if it is the plant in my garden.
Shockingly, one man’s poetic beauty is another gardener’s invasive nuisance! Two different plants with the same common names of Sweet Autumn Clematis or Virgin’s Bower, one native, the other an import from the 1880’s.
My search brought be to this post of beautiful photos and a “cautionary tale”. After reading it, I will be pruning my plant before those seeds ripen!
Early morning view — a little ritual of each day — to look and see the wonder of the sky first thing.
The sun comes up and washes the butterfly bush in light and they come and drink deeply.
And then, in the middle of the day, they come…having no shame, they come and taunt me with their presence, reminding me of the havoc they wrecked in the gardens through the night. Boldly lapping even the birds’ seed from the feeder. Huffing at my complaint. Think me mean if you will but I cannot love them.
Such beauty for only a few hours and then gone. This year the day lilies have had quite a bloom season. Each day in the garden is so different. I have found it very difficult to photograph this red Pardon Me, but this light was about perfect for it. So many bloom stalks and buds this year will make it a joy for some time yet.
This blosson just looks so happy to be spending itself for its Creator’s pleasure.
The last of the Gentle Shepherd blooms for this year, so exquisite!
The common orange daylily. Common only because they are plentiful; this orange is always a welcome sight along the highways and I tuck some along the edges of the hedgerow here. One somehow got to be front and center in the daylily bed where it makes quite a statement and makes me smile.
The Stella D’Oro’s are finished for now. I hope they will re-bloom this year, they don’t always.
Consider how the wild flowers grow. they do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.Luke 12:27
“Every spring is the only spring, a perpetual astonishment” Ellis Peters
I quite agree, every spring is so amazing! The sweet woodruff loves it here, matting itself around and through so many plants. Giving us delicate white bloom in May and a carpet of green until frost.
Fiddleheads are intriguing ans so visible on these large ferns. They grow under the Fragrant Viburnum carlesii. White Flower Farm says, “This is one of the most gloriously fragrant shrubs known to man. The dense flower heads, which measure up to 3in across, produce white flowers from blush pink buds, and the perfume, which is a sweet, rich, spicy vanilla, carries a considerable distance across a lawn or garden.” And this is so true! I like to stand near and try to drink in the fragrance of it. All too soon the bloom is gone. But then it is time to search the shady nooks for sweet Lily of the Valley. Little clusters in a tiny bottle on the kitchen table bring such joy.
The sweet yellow bloom is trollius or globeflower which seems to love a shady area along our fence.
This was a very cool spring for us; I thought I would never put away my heavy fleece! I think it delayed the arrival of our hummers. Last year the territorial war seemed a bit vicious so I found another of these bottle feeders in an attempt to have everyone be nice. The newest one has the most interest right now but I would like to dine among the iris myself! It will be interesting to see if the popularity of the feeder changes as the Iris wane and the daylilies bloom out around our porch area. Not a traditional porch but with our swing, small table and chairs outside our kitchen door, It serves us well as one. We enjoy many pleasant hours there.
I found that blog conversion and learning this new thing felt a bit like I was pushing through my own darkness and into new light. But construction has begun and changes will come in time!
There is always much to do in the spring gardens. Picking up, raking, digging, pruning, planning, all wonderful activities for reflection.
So much beauty and vibrant color after the dull of winter almost hurts the eye while it refreshes the soul. It slowed my anxiousness and Cousin Cele came to mind. We met through the “magic” of internet research. Cele had a great deal of family history to share with me. At our first meeting she brought a book she had created from her mother’s family complete with photographs. I was rather amazed and told her I needed to take a class in the photo editing program she used. Her reply surprised me – “Classes are all well and good but sometimes you just have to get in there and do it.” Cele was 87 at that time. Whether for gardening or blogging or cleaning house, “sometimes you just have to get in there and do it” is good advice!
A walk in the rain to drink in the fleeting wonder of spring blossoms. I never tire of it!
A beautiful surprise to draw me into the day…
I hope this is beautiful day of blessings for you.
I have always loved the cadence and the imagry of George Cooper’s October’s Party.
“October gave a party;
The leaves by hundred’s came…
Then, in a rustic hollow,
At hide and seek they played,
The party closed at sundown,
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground;
And then the party ended
In jolly “hands around.””
After a night of wind, I walk about crunching leaves underfoot; finding the treasures of the day. The herb and vegetable gardens are ready for their winter resting but I’ve work to do yet in the flower beds. But I dawdle, winding down from summer as if I too had been to some grand party and I want only to re-live the joy and conversation of it.
Storms turned the skies to September blue, hostas turned gold, the burning bush flamed, cleomes burst seed and the last of the blue hydrangeas changed to rosey attire.
Some seasons of life I’ve enjoyed the life of a night owl, but I’ve come back to treasuring early time. So I search and photograph and go back into the cozy warmth of kitchen only to be drawn out again knowing the wonder of early light is happening. Moving my chair to face the east where cloud play is illuminated in the rising sun, I huddle into an old quilt with my mug of coffee. And watch. I hear the traffic hum of those on the go and I begin to hear hammering and saws nearby. Work calls but I stay listening to quiet bird calls beginning to sound through the yards.
I lower my eyes to write and suddenly feel like there is a disco ball in the yard! The aspen leaves wave their quivering morning excitement filtering and shattering the light into sparkling pieces as the sun rises through them and the birds sing applause now. The coffee chills but I still sit and wonder why I am not here every morning when dawn calls hope and promise for the day.
With hot coffee, I return to find my quilt like stained glass. A breeze stirs now and the sound of leaves dancing close fills my ears and I huddle again into the quilt and move my chair into the expanding warmth of the ever rising sun. All too soon these days pass and the exuberance of October is upon us!